Drew Brees Contract: Missing Camp Would Doom New Orleans Saints' Upcoming Season

The New Orleans Saints need a leader. Apparently, quarterback Drew Brees does not want to apply for that position without a significant payday.

According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Brees does not plan on reporting to training camp without inking a deal by Monday’s deadline. Brees is looking to one-up Peyton Manning’s agreement with Denver this offseason, looking for a $20.5 million payout opposed to the $19.25 million the Saints have offered.

Whether or not this is a ploy by Brees to gain the upper hand in negotiations, the Saints organization is playing with the fate of their upcoming season by not tipping their hand to Brees.

Already without head coach Sean Payton and interim coach Joe Vitt to start the season, the organization would be wise to placate their franchise player during this period of instability.

A team that was able to pay their defensive players for big hits can’t seem to give out the paper for their star. Catch-22, anyone?

Since he came to New Orleans in 2006, Brees has merely led his team to a 62-33 record (.652 winning percentage) and won this franchise’s first Super Bowl trophy. Along with Payton, he has transformed the franchise to elite status overnight.

In addition, not many quarterbacks in the history of the game have commanded a no-huddle passing attack better than No. 9; his command of the offense is undeniable.

A tidbit for the stat geeks: Brees has thrown at least 24 touchdowns for seven straight years, finishing in at least the top six every year amongst quarterbacks. Also, he holds the record for percentage completion rate in a single season, which he set in 2009.

Think the Miami Dolphins wouldn’t kidnap this guy to pay him $20.5 million right now? What about Arizona, Seattle, Minnesota?

Everybody knows how far a team can fall without an elite quarterback in the fold. Just ask the Indianapolis Colts.

Mickey Loomis and Co. don’t seem to have that smell of desperation. Does the front office really want to go to war with Chase Daniel?

Cosmetically, this Saints team isn’t much worse off than last season sans their head coach. In fact, they may be even better talent-wise on the defensive end. Sure, they’ll be without star backer Jonathan Vilma, but adding Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne and Brodrick Bunkley up front will soften the blow.

All of this will be for naught, though, if New Orleans is unable to reach an agreement with their star quarterback.

Already dealing with muddled leadership, the Saints cannot simply afford to not have Brees in the huddle to start training camp. His attendance will serve as a calming presence to the offense and validation to the New Orleans locker room for this upcoming season.

Good news for the Saints faithful: Brees has already indicated he would not sit out an entire year. Bad news? His absence in training camp will spell doom for this franchise’s hopes in 2012.